Augusta Wrongful Death Lawyer

When negligence causes fatal injuries in Augusta, the victim’s family has a right to pursue compensation and hold the at-fault party financially responsible. Our team’s Augusta wrongful death lawyers handle these claims and lawsuits, helping families get justice. We believe accountability is important, even if there are no criminal charges involved. We also know how much a payout could mean for your family’s financial stability.

The Hawk Firm provides free case reviews. We can discuss your options based on the facts of your loved one’s passing. We know how Georgia’s wrongful death laws work and how to navigate the financial recovery process. Contact us for more information.

Table of Contents

• How Much is My Wrongful Death Lawsuit Worth?
• Your Attorneys Can Prove the Cause of Your Loved One’s Passing
• Our Wrongful Death Lawyers Manage Cases Arising From These Incidents
• Wrongful Death Laws After a Fatal Accident
• Considerations After Losing a Loved One in Augusta

What are the Most Common Wrongful Death Accidents?

The list of wrongful deaths is similar to the list of personal injuries, in the sense that any injury could result in death if serious enough. The majority of deaths in the US are caused by unintentional injuries. These sudden deaths can take place at work, while driving, or at your favorite coffee shop. Car accidents are technically the most common cause of wrongful death, but there are plenty of deaths caused by a bad fall, accidental poisoning, or a construction accident. If you’ve lost a loved one to a death that could have been prevented, you should consult with a wrongful death lawyer who knows how to get the best results possible for your wrongful death lawsuit.

What are Considered Wrongful Death Claims?

Technically, Georgia law defines wrongful death as any death that was caused by the negligent or reckless conduct of someone else. If the accident hadn’t resulted in death, could the person have filed a personal injury claim? If so, their death is likely eligible for a wrongful death lawsuit. A lot of the same factors that go into proving a personal injury claim also go into proving a wrongful death claim. Both cases require a solid amount of evidence, regular paperwork, and key witnesses. The laws of each state change regularly, though, and you’ll want to speak to a wrongful death attorney who is up to date on your state’s requirements.

The Hawk Firm: Your Augusta Wrongful Death Legal Team

Our founder, Jacque D. Hawk, has represented families in wrongful death cases for almost 35 years. The Hawk Firm prides itself on recovering compensation and getting justice. We can manage your case if you lost a loved one due to someone else’s carelessness, recklessness, or intentional actions.

Our compassionate team members have the wisdom, experience, and legal knowledge to get our clients compensation through an insurance claim or lawsuit. We pride ourselves on our dedication to every client. You can trust us to focus on your best interests throughout this process.

We Advocate for Grieving Families on a Contingency-Fee Basis

Our attorneys never charge clients upfront fees. Instead, we work based on contingency. We cover the cost of investigating your case, working with consultants, and filing your claim. Our clients never receive a bill before their case closes. Our attorney’s fees come from the compensation recovered.

If our clients do not get paid, neither do we.

Your Attorneys Can Prove the Cause of Your Loved One’s Passing

Recovering compensation via a wrongful death case requires us to prove negligence.

This means asserting that:

• The at-fault party had a civil obligation to act with reasonable care.
• The at-fault party failed to uphold this obligation.
• Your loved one suffered fatal injuries and passed away.
• You have damages related to your loved one’s passing.

The victim does not have to lose their life at the accident scene. They could pass away at the hospital, from complications weeks later, or other related causes.

Our team can assess your legal options during your free initial consultation. During this conversation, we can discuss what happened, what the law allows, and the next steps toward financial recovery. We can also answer your questions about our services and what solutions might best fit your family’s needs.

Our Wrongful Death Lawyers Manage Cases Arising From These Incidents

The Hawk Firm handles wrongful death cases stemming from:

• Car accidents
• Truck crashes
• Bicycle and pedestrian accidents
• Motorcycle collisions
• Bus crashes
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Dog bites
• Food poisoning
• Drownings and pool accidents
• Fires
• Negligent security

Each case requires its own approach and evidence. You can trust your wrongful death lawyer in Augusta to fulfill your case’s necessary obligations. That way, we can recover compensation for your wrongful death-related expenses

We Seek Fair Compensation for Wrongful Death Claimants in Augusta

A wrongful death settlement or court award could comprise:

• Your loved one’s ambulance ride, medical bills, and other care costs
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of household income
• Loss of benefits, such as health insurance and retirement
• Loss of inheritance
• Loss of services performed by the decedent, such as lawn maintenance or childcare
• The surviving family members’ intangible losses
• Your family’s pain and suffering
• Other out-of-pocket expenses

When we handle a case, we work closely with the family to collect the necessary documentation to show their expenses and losses, both tangible and intangible. We know how the insurance industry values the non-economic damages family members experience after the death of a loved one.

While no amount of money will ever stop the pain or bring your loved one back, we believe financial recovery can alleviate some of your hardships.

Our Wrongful Death Lawyers Manage Cases From Start to Finish

During your case’s progression, you can spend time with loved ones, focus on your well-being, and celebrate your loved one’s life. In the meantime, we can:

Gather Evidence to Support Your Case

Every successful wrongful death case has one thing in common: evidence. The stronger your case’s evidence, the more willing the insurer could be to settle. Yet, evidence depends greatly on the cause of the accident, what happened, and the exact circumstances surrounding your loved one’s passing.

To support your case, we intend to:

• Request and obtain relevant medical records, death certificates, and other documents
• Identify any possible videos or pictures of the incident
• Interview eyewitnesses
• Work with accident reconstructionists as necessary
• Review any official reports, such as those filed by the police or first responders
• Enlist the help of industry, medical, and economic experts as needed
• Survey the accident scene
• Gather any evidence available through a criminal case or investigation
• Collect documentation of recoverable damages

Our team identifies all potentially liable individuals, companies, and agencies in each case we handle.

File Your Insurance Claim

Learning the cause of your loved one’s passing allows us to determine liability. In many wrongful death cases, the liable party is generally an insurance company.

Filing an insurance claim requires us to:

• Know the cause of your loved one’s passing
• Know the at-fault and liable parties
• Draft, write, and send your demand letter
• Evaluate your damages’ cost
• Support your claim with evidence
• Negotiate for what you need
• Manage all claim-related communications

You don’t have to lift a finger during your case’s progression. With The Hawk Firm advocating for you, all you have to focus on is your well-being.

File a Lawsuit in Civil Court

We may elect to sue the at-fault party for your loved one’s passing. This requires us to file your case in accordance with the statute of limitations. You generally have two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit, with your deadline starting from the date of your loved one’s passing.

We manage your lawsuit-related obligations, such as:

• Pre-trial motions: The first actions in these cases generally occur shortly after the defendant’s response. Some cases have many early motions, while others have none. We can discuss the necessary motions in your case and answer any questions about this process.
• Discovery: Discovery is the process where both sides gather evidence and share what they’ve gathered. Discovery could require answering questions under oath, both verbally (depositions) and written (interrogatories). Your attorney can explain what to expect and walk you through this process as necessary.
• Trial: Most civil cases never go to trial. Our attorneys continue to negotiate with the insurance carrier and the liable party’s legal team throughout the process. Settlements are common. However, if we need to represent you and present your case to the judge and jury, we will not hesitate. Then, we ask the jury to grant a verdict and compensation in your favor.

Our attorneys manage this process from start to finish. We are trial lawyers familiar with courtroom procedures. In fact, we may be familiar with the judge, courthouse staff, and others involved in your case. We represent clients in the Richmond County civil courts regularly.

Wrongful Death Laws After a Fatal Accident

Our attorneys at The Hawk Firm know how to navigate the claims process. Under Georgia law, certain surviving family members can hold a negligent party accountable following their loved one’s passing. This is generally possible when the victim could have filed a lawsuit on their own had they survived their injuries.

A wrongful death case allows families to recover compensation and get justice after a careless or reckless party causes a serious accident and fatal injuries. There is a strict list of who qualifies to file this type of case.

This includes:

• A surviving spouse and/or any children
• If there is no spouse, any adult children can pursue the case
• Surviving parents, if there is no spouse or children
• A representative of the estate, such as the executor of the will, if there are no other surviving family members

We can evaluate your legal options during your free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wrongful Death Cases in Augusta

We want to put your most pressing questions to rest. That way, you can make informed decisions regarding your case’s progression. Some commonly asked questions we get from grieving families include:

How Much Can I Recover?

Your wrongful death-related damages depend on your situation. Some cases settle for six figures. Others resolve for more than that.

When calculating your damages, our team considers:

• The cause of your loved one’s passing
• Your financial hardships
• The severity of your loved one’s fatal condition
• Your loved one’s role in your household
• Your loved one’s lost income
• Your past, present, and future losses
• Your attorney can explain more about your recoverable damages during our partnership.
• How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Wrongful Death Case in Augusta?

Your attorney can explain more about your recoverable damages during our partnership.

How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Wrongful Death Case in Augusta?

Your case’s progression depends on many factors unique to your situation, such as:

• The insurer’s willingness to settle
• The availability of certain evidence
• The cause of your loved one’s passing
• Issues regarding fault and liability

We aim to keep your case moving forward. That way, you can get the compensation you need.

What Challenges Can My Attorney Address?

Wrongful death cases come with many challenges. Yet, our team stands ready to address them.

We extend a helping hand if:

• The insurer offers less than you need.
• The liable party denies financial responsibility.
• The cause of your loved one’s passing is unclear.
• You’re not sure what damages you deserve.
• You have problems gathering evidence.

We hope to make the claims process as easy as possible.

What Happens During My Free Consultation?

Your free consultation is an opportunity to learn more about your legal options

We can answer some of your most pressing questions, including:

• Can I file a wrongful death lawsuit?
• How can a wrongful death lawyer in Augusta help me?
• How soon could my case resolve?
• What previous results has The Hawk Firm gotten?
• What should I do now?

We stand ready to address any concern you have.

Considerations After Losing a Loved One in Augusta

When it comes to your grief, our lawyers want you to focus on your health and well-being. We encourage you to spend time with loved ones, go to therapy, and do things you enjoy. When it comes to your legal case, however, there are a few considerations that could bolster its outcome.

Some of these considerations include:

• Keeping all case-related evidence. We can use any information you get regarding your loved one’s passing to bolster your claim. Supporting information may comprise correspondence between you and the insurer, your loved one’s medical records, and accident reports.
• Refraining from giving a recorded statement. The claims adjuster may ask you to give a recorded statement regarding your loved one’s passing. No matter how friendly they seem, refuse. You’re not obligated to give a recorded statement, and anything you share could discredit your case.
• Thinking twice about all settlement offers. You may feel tempted to accept the insurance company’s first offer. Yet, this offer likely doesn’t account for your past, present, and future damages. Our team can review any settlement offers the insurer extends. That way, you can get what you need.
• Consulting our wrongful death lawyers. You have enough on your plate after losing a loved one. Our team stands ready to manage your case’s obligations, from gathering evidence to negotiating a settlement.

You can learn more about your next steps during your free consultation.

Connect With Our Lawyers to Discuss Your Augusta Wrongful Death Case

At The Hawk Firm, we offer free consultations to grieving families. We can build a case against the negligent party who caused your loved one’s passing. Reach out to our team today to learn more. We can answer your questions, address your rights, and explain your options. For more information, reach out to an Augusta personal injury lawyer.

Contact us today at (706) 724-8537 to start.

Client Testimonials

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Star Review

“Best Law Firm in the CSRA! Thank you Hawk Firm for handling all of my legal needs with outstanding professionalism! Highly recommend The Hawk Firm to anyone in need of legal services!” -Rob W.